This past weekend local band BlueBilly Grit took first place in the nationally renowned Telluride Bluegrass Competition in southwest Colorado.

The band and their families drove more than 3,600 miles round trip to compete against eight other bands. In the final round of the competition, the band played on the main stage for several thousand festival attendees and emerged the winner.

Along with prize money, the band won a highly sought after spot to play in the lineup of next year’s festival.Previous Telluride winners include Nickel Creek and the Dixie Chicks.

Band members include Mark Garrison of Maysville, Amber Starr Hollis and Shawn Hart of Commerce, and Patrick Chisolm, Adam Rambin and Roman Gaddis from Dahlonega.